Universities

Why humidify universities?

Universities face unique indoor environmental challenges, with diverse building types ranging from classrooms and residence halls to libraries, laboratories, athletic facilities, and administrative offices. Maintaining proper humidity levels throughout these spaces helps support occupant comfort, indoor air quality, and overall building performance.

Air that is too dry can contribute to respiratory irritation, dry skin, and increased static electricity, while excess humidity can encourage mold growth, condensation, and other moisture-related issues. DriSteem humidification, dehumidification, and water treatment solutions help universities maintain balanced indoor conditions that support learning, research, and campus life.

By maintaining relative humidity within recommended ranges, universities can create healthier indoor environments, improve occupant comfort, protect building assets, and support reliable operation across campus facilities.

Well-being of staff, faculty, students, and the surrounding community

Reducing stress levels
In areas where students and staff spend most of their time, such as dormitories and lecture halls, maintaining RH levels between 30% and 60% may lower stress levels.1 A study comparing occupants in an environment with an RH level between 30% – 60% and those in drier conditions measured a 25% difference in stress response levels

Reducing the spread of viruses
When the RH level is 23% or less, viruses retain about 70-77% infectivity, compared to only 15–22% when the RH level is greater than or equal to 43%.2 Maintaining RH levels between 40 and 60 percent decreases bacteria and viruses in the air and hinders the development of fungi, mites, chemical interactions, and ozone production.

Only 46% of university students aged 18-24 attending a two- or four-year college or university get an annual flu shot.3 Using non-pharmaceutical interventions like humidification to complement vaccinations is a safe, efficient, and easy way to reduce the spread of influenza and protect staff members and students.

An assessment administered to Villanova University undergraduate students found that 17% reported that colds flu/sore throats had affected their academic performance.4 Properly controlled RH reduces the spread of airborne viruses.

Decreased absences
Maintain the recommended RH level, especially in dormitories and cafeterias, to reduce the impact of contagious respiratory illnesses such as seasonal influenza and SARS-CoV-2.

Absences of staff, faculty, and students increase during the dry winter months, often due to chronic
respiratory illnesses. Research has established that flu outbreaks can be predicted 14 to 16 days after
outdoor humidity bottoms out in the continental United States.

Other issues
Dry air can cause damage to furnishings, musical instruments, gymnasiums, lecture halls, and other building materials. Controlled humidity levels can protect against:

• Cracking and splitting of flooring or woodwork
• Deterioration of fabrics and other materials
• Damage to finishes and surface distortion

Resources 

Buyer’s Guide: Humidification for Universities 
Learn how controlling a university’s relative humidity can help keep staff, faculty, students, and the surrounding community safe. 

Sources

1. Well-built for well-being: Controlling relative humidity in the workplace matters for our health
2. High Humidity Leads to Loss of Infectious Virus from Simulated Cough
3. Addressing the Challenges of Influenza Vaccination on US College Campuses
4. Focus on Top Impediments to Academic Success

Next steps

Contact your local DriSteem representative to learn more about humidity control for universities. Use the Find a Rep tool below to find your nearest representative.

Already using humidity control to protect university facilities?

For best performance and highest efficiency, existing humidification systems should be checked to determine if any replacement parts are needed, if any other maintenance needs to be performed, and whether there is a software update available. Contact your local DriSteem representative to learn more.